1997 Marshall Thundering Herd football team
Encyclopedia
The 1997 Marshall Thundering Herd football team represented the Marshall University
in the 1997 NCAA Division I-A college football season. It was their first year in the Mid-American Conference.
and future NFL quarterback Chad Pennington
were the centerpiece of an explosive offense that led the Thundering Herd to the Mid-American Conference
title. Moss caught 25 touchdown passes that season, at the time a Division I-A record, and was a first-team All-American. For the season, Moss had 96 receptions for 1820 yards, and 26 touchdowns.
Moss won the Fred Biletnikoff Award
as the nation's leading wide receiver, and was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy
(finishing fourth in the balloting, behind Ryan Leaf
, Peyton Manning
, and Charles Woodson
, who won the award). Moss left Marshall with 168 receptions for 3,467 yards and a school record 53 touchdowns.
Marshall University
Marshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States....
in the 1997 NCAA Division I-A college football season. It was their first year in the Mid-American Conference.
Regular season
In the 1997 season, Marshall University's first in Division I-A, Randy MossRandy Moss
Randy Gene Moss is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
and future NFL quarterback Chad Pennington
Chad Pennington
James Chadwick "Chad" Pennington is an American football quarterback who played in the National Football League for ten years. He is currently a football analyst with FOX Sports though he plans to return to playing after recovering from an injury...
were the centerpiece of an explosive offense that led the Thundering Herd to the Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
title. Moss caught 25 touchdown passes that season, at the time a Division I-A record, and was a first-team All-American. For the season, Moss had 96 receptions for 1820 yards, and 26 touchdowns.
Moss won the Fred Biletnikoff Award
Fred Biletnikoff Award
The Fred Biletnikoff Award has been presented since 1994 to America's top college football receiver by the TQC Foundation, Inc. , an independent not-for-profit organization which created the award in 1994 and has sponsored it since...
as the nation's leading wide receiver, and was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
(finishing fourth in the balloting, behind Ryan Leaf
Ryan Leaf
Ryan David Leaf is a former American football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League for four seasons...
, Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning
Peyton Williams Manning is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League . Manning holds the record for most NFL MVP awards with four. He was drafted by the Colts as the first overall pick in 1998 after a standout college football career with the...
, and Charles Woodson
Charles Woodson
Charles C. Woodson is an American football cornerback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He played college football at the University of Michigan for the Michigan Wolverines. In 1997, Woodson led the Wolverines to a national championship...
, who won the award). Moss left Marshall with 168 receptions for 3,467 yards and a school record 53 touchdowns.
Season schedule
The Thundering Herd finished the regular season with a record of 10 wins and 2 losses.| Game | Date | Opponent | Result | Thundering Herd points | Opponents | Record |
| 1 | Aug. 30 | @ | Loss | 31 | 42 | 0-1 |
| 2 | Sept. 6 | @ | Win | 35 | 25 | 1-1 |
| 3 | Sept. 13 | @ | Win | 42 | 17 | 2-1 |
| 4 | Sept. 20 | Win | 48 | 7 | 3-1 | |
| 5 | Sept. 27 | @ | Win | 42 | 16 | 4-1 |
| 6 | Oct. 11 | Win | 52 | 17 | 5-1 | |
| 7 | Oct. 18 | @ | Loss | 21 | 45 | 5-2 |
| 8 | Oct. 25 | Win | 48 | 25 | 6-2 | |
| 9 | Nov. 1 | @ | Win | 45 | 17 | 7-2 |
| 10 | Nov. 8 | Win | 28 | 0 | 8-2 | |
| 11 | Nov. 15 | Win | 27 | 0 | 9-2 | |
| 12 | Dec. 5 | Win | 34 | 14 | 10-2 | |
1997 Team Players in the NFL
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | Team |
| Randy Moss Randy Moss Randy Gene Moss is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft... |
Wide Receiver | 1 | 21 | Minnesota Vikings 1998 Minnesota Vikings season 1998 was the 38th year of season play for the Minnesota Vikings and the 79th regular season of the National Football League.The 1998 Minnesota Vikings became only the third team in NFL history to win 15 games during the regular season. That year, the Vikings high powered offense scored 556 points... |
| John Wade | Center | 5 | 148 | Jacksonville Jaguars 1998 Jacksonville Jaguars season The 1998 Jacksonville Jaguars season was the team's fourth year in the National Football League. The Jaguars appeared twice on Monday Night Football.-Staff:-Schedule:-Playoffs:-Awards and records:... |